Distillerie de Paris : Gin Tonik

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Gin Tonik from Distillerie de Paris

Tasting notes

Appearance
Gin Tonik is a clear, limpid spirit with a crisp, fluid texture, typical of gins distilled without added sugar. Its extra-dry character and 43% ABV hint, from the first pour, at a lively attack and a taut structure, while retaining a certain brilliance in the glass.

Nose
The nose of Gin Tonik unfolds in a warm, spicy register, led by notes of cinnamon and warm spices that immediately recall dark spirits. Juniper and coriander, the classic hallmarks of gin, mingle with touches of citrus that add freshness, while tonka bean lends soft, captivating, almost indulgent aromas. The quinine, incorporated during distillation, adds a dry, apothecary-like bitterness that structures the whole.

Palate
On the palate, Gin Tonik is lively and intense, with a bold attack driven by citrus, before giving way to a spicy, woody development in which tonka bean adds roundness. The bitterness of the quinine builds gradually and stretches into a long, dry finish, without ever dominating: the gin remains round and flavourful, revealing a remarkable balance between dryness, bitterness and indulgence.

Pairings and tasting occasions
Thanks to its spicy structure and pronounced dryness, Gin Tonik pairs naturally with blue-veined or aged cheeses, whose richness is balanced by the gin's bitterness and freshness. It also works well with cured meats, such as Parma ham or smoked speck, where its woody, spicy dimension provides a counterpoint to the saltiness and smokiness. It can be enjoyed chilled, at the start or end of a meal, either neat or lightly lengthened.

Mixology
Designed as a "super dry gin tonic", Gin Tonik is ideally enjoyed with a simple splash of sparkling water and ice, as the quinine in the distillate is enough to recreate the balance of a classic gin and tonic, with no added sugar. It also pairs beautifully with lemonade or an excellent tonic to reveal its aromas fully, and can be softened to taste with a sweetener such as honey or agave syrup, offering great freedom to personalise the cocktail.

Gin Tonik, an extra-dry Parisian gin with woody, spicy notes

Distillerie de Paris: the capital's first craft distillery
Founded in January 2015 by brothers Nicolas and Sébastien Julhès, who still run it today, Distillerie de Paris is located on rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, adjoining the Julhès family's gourmet delicatessen. It presents itself as the capital's first modern legal distillery, following a 1914 decree that banned all distillation in Paris for nearly a century. This urban micro-distillery produces, on a fully integrated site, a diverse range including gins, rums, brandies and aged spirits, with a highly aromatic approach to its creations. It is in this spirit that Gin Tonik was born, an emblematic French gin showcasing the expertise and creativity of Distillerie de Paris.

Gin Tonik: the story of gin and quinine reinvented
Gin Tonik was born from the Julhès brothers' desire to create a gin designed for lovers of dark spirits, paying tribute to the history of gin and quinine. Its singularity lies in the incorporation of quinine directly during distillation, an approach presented as a true revolution in the world of the gin and tonic: it allows an extra-dry, balanced cocktail to be made with sparkling water alone, without resorting to a sweetened tonic water. The recipe is built on an aromatic architecture crafted around warm spices, woody notes, tonka bean, juniper, coriander and citrus, creating a profile that is both complex and indulgent. This gin, bottled in a 50 cl flask at 43% ABV, is sold through the distillery's official boutique and e-shop as well as through specialist platforms in France and internationally, notably in Japan, where it is presented as a premium Parisian craft gin. This distribution reflects the growing reputation of Gin Tonik, now a signature product of Distillerie de Paris, firmly rooted in the history of gin and resolutely focused on innovation.